History of Chongqing

Chongqing is a city with a long history of 4,000 years and rich culture.

History of Chongqing - Origin of Its Name

Evidences discovered by archaeologist shows that there were primitive men lived here in the Ancient Stone Age about 20,000 years ago. It is said that the Soil Mountain on the south bank of the Yangtze River was place where Dayu get married. Dayu is the third king in the ancient times of China; he is famous for his flood control. There is a stone (which is said to be the stone on which Dayu's wife waiting for him) standing on the river bank near Chaotianmen. Chongqing was called Jingzhou in Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties. After Emperor Wu of Zhou Dynasty defeated Emperor Zhou of Shang Dynasty, he established State of Ba and took Jingzhou as the capital city. During the following dynasties after Zhou Dynasty, Jingzhou was called Bajun, West Bajun, Yizhou, Chuzhou, and Bazhou successively. In the first year of the Sui Dynasty, it was called Yuzhou, and after that Yu became the short name of this place since the Jialing River was called Yushui River at that time. It was called Gongzhou in 1102, the Northern Song Dynasty and it was called Chongqing in 1189, the Southern Song Dynasty. The name Chongqing had been used till now. Chongqing means double happiness- the governor of Chongqing at that time got two promotions and finally be the emperor in the same year. During the Emperor Yongzheng Years of Qing Dynasty, there were two districts and 11counties under the administration of Chongqing. That has covered almost all the districts controlled by Chongqing today.

History of Chongqing - Relics

Though the history has covered most of the reality, people today could find the ancient city's glorious past through its relics. Such as the Tomb of Ba Manzi of Ba Country, the Fotuguan Stone Carvings, the relic of the Ancient City, the log cabins on the cliff, the Ciqikou Ancient Town, the Huguang Guild Hall, and the Buddhism temples (such as the Huayan Temple, the Lohan Temple, and the Ciyun Temple).

During the years 1892 - 1949, from Chongqing was established as a city to Chongqing was liberated. A lot of important historical events happened here. Just because of that, Chongqing became the most renowned historical and cultural city. After Chongqing was established as a city, the industry, business, and transportation here got a rapid development. With the spread of the educational reform, people's minds were emancipated. A lot of spearheads of old democratic revolution sprung out in the 1911 Revolution, such as Zhou Rong and Zhang Pei. Their monuments are still standing in the city. Chongqing has a population of 230,000 when he was established in February 1929. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1939, the central government at that time declared that Chongqing was directly under the administration of the government and it was set as the capital during the war. In April 1946, the government set Nanjng as the capital again. Chongqing is not only a center of politic, economic and culture, but also the central stage of the strengths of the Anti-Fascism. The South Substation of Central Committee of Communist Party of China and the Eighth Route Army Liaison Office set up their offices here.

Many Communists, represented by Zhou Enlai made great efforts and contributions to the cooperation with the Kuomintang during the period. The Hongyan Culture has become the center of the Anti-Japanese War. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chairman Mao came to Chongqing to talk with Jiang Jieshi and signed the October 10th Agreement with the Kuomintang. A large number of buildings and sites witnessed these historical moments, and some of them are still well preserved. Such as the Hongyan Village where Zhou Enlai lived, the Osmanthus Garden where the October 10th Agreement was signed, Linssen's Residence (Linssen was the president of the Kuomintang at that time), the Former Residence of Song Qingling, the Former Residence of Jiang Jieshi Couple, the South Spring, the Villa of General Marshall, the Relics of the Foreign Embassies, and the former residences of the great cultural celebrities (such as Guo Moruo and Xu Beihong). The Residence of Baiju, the Zhazi Prison, and the Cemetery of Revolutionary Martyrs at the foot of the Gele Mountain also witnessed the history and still standing there eulogizing the heroes and fulminating the crimes.

Chongqing was liberated on November 30, 1949. The city turned to a new page from then on. The Southwest Army and the committee led by Deng Xiaoping, Liu Bocheng, and He Long stationed here. On December 11 of the same year Chongqing was set up as a city directly under the Central Government. It became a part of Sichuan on July 1, 1954. The magnificent Grand Hall of Chongqing People was built shortly after liberation, and it is still one of the landmarks of Chongqing. With the development of the economy, modern buildings sprung up like mushrooms in the city. Especially, hundreds of skyscrapers raised in the city after the reform and opening up made it a modern, beautiful and open city. If you take a bird-view, you will find that the Yuzhong District surrounded by Yangtze River and Jialing River looks like a long and narrow swimming pool while the Nan'an District, Jiangbei District, Shapingba District and Jiulong District are long and wide. In the night, Chongqing will turn to a colorful city. There are crawling cable cars and bridges over the rivers. The broad squares and beautiful parks are the best places for the people to take a stroll while the restaurants supply the people here with delicious food.

Upstream along the Yangtze River, you will get to Yichang in Hubei Province. That is the Three Gorges Scenic Area which attracts a worldwide attention. The Three Gorges is a golden scenery line, the landscape there is beautiful and of tremendous momentum.